Message posted by craigandamanda on 15 December 2004 at 4:44pm - IP Logged
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craigandamanda
Dear all,
I have heard that in order to set up a business in Corfu you are required to sit an exam in spoken and written Greek. Does anyone know of any Greek language tutors in Corfu that teach specifically for this exam? If anyone has any contact numbers of tutors in Corfu I would really appreciate it if you could pass them on to me. I am also looking for practice or past papers.
Many Thanks
Amanda
Message posted by Terry and Julia on 15 December 2004 at 7:02pm - IP Logged
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I am not sure if this will be of any help, but I saw on the back of a bus that one of the language schools does teach Greek to foreigners. I cannot remember which one though but I think it was one of the following:
info@Pachischools.net they also have a website www.Pachischools.net (The advertisement gives capital P, if they are invalid addresses you may want to try with small ones)
Hope that helps you,
Julia
Message posted by daiquiri on 15 December 2004 at 7:54pm - IP Logged
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can I ask where you got this info? I'm starting up a business in Corfu in a few months, but nobody has ever told me about this exam - nor the Greek Embassy here, neither the Aliens Police Department of Corfu (I actually have their written permission to start a business, but never heard about this exam). And my lawyer never mentioned it either..
Message posted by Susanna on 15 December 2004 at 8:13pm - IP Logged
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Send some more details, please. It's not necessarily the case that you need language qualifications to set up a business. It depends on the business. I'll go and ask at the Chamber of Commerce if you let me have some more information.
Happy Christmas!
Susanna
Message posted by craigandamanda on 16 December 2004 at 3:52pm - IP Logged
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craigandamanda
Hi- thanks for your comments and advice- I was told that in order to teach English I would need to take this exam to prove that I had a good understanding of Greek. I think Nathan has also mentioned that he had to take one one he set up Agni Taverna ( I may be mistaken). I can't remember who told me about the exam for English teachers- but I know that if you teach in a language school you are covered by the school's certificate, however I am thinking of doing private teaching and assume that I will need to gain my own certificate.
Susanna- we are not in Corfu yet- but are aiming for February. The building licence came through last week! At last! So now we can really start moving forward! I would be really grateful if you could enquire at the chamber of commerce. I do have an honours degree in English, a TESOL qualification and a PGCE, but just want to make sure that I am doing things properly- all legal and above board!
Many thanks for the links, Julia. I will try them later as we both want to learn at least basic Greek so that we can hopefully become accepted members of the community.
Can't wait to come over to start our new life- hope to see you soon!
Amanda
Message posted by John&Mary on 20 December 2004 at 12:41pm - IP Logged
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Hi daiquiri. You can find some info. about the Greek proficiency exams on the Athens News site, www.athensnews.gr/education/1edu15.htm. This sets out info. on the varous grades and the levels of proficiency you need to do certain kinds of work in Greece. Also leads to other sites to expand on the information.
Message posted by daiquiri on 21 December 2004 at 2:56pm - IP Logged
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thank you for the info, well if I understand correctly, this exam is only obligatory for those who want to work in the Greek public sector, for everyone else it's only recommended.
"The Level D certificate allows non-Greek EU citizens to apply for employment in the Greek public sector. Employers in the private sector also require a level of proficiency in the language, and the certificates serve as official proof of linguistic proficiency"
I hope this won't be the next surprise I'll have to face, when I go to Corfu in January (with all the permissions to found a company..) this nightmare has been going on for a year, everytime I'm told by the local Greek Embassy I have everything I need, in Greece it always turns out that I still don't.. Bureaucracy is killing me. I do speek Greek actually, but certainly not at proficient level, and it would cost me months of delay again if they tell me to pass such an exam before I can found a company :(
Message posted by Agni on 21 December 2004 at 4:08pm - IP Logged
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Daiquiri, contact our site accountant 'Cleri'. She helped me setup Agni Travel a few years back and was brilliant. I had to take a Greek language exam and translate my Univeristy MSC certificate into Greek of course, but she dealt with most of the government offices.
Nathan
Message posted by daiquiri on 21 December 2004 at 9:59pm - IP Logged
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thank you very much Nathan, could you pm me the contact of Cleri?
I already have a lawyer in Corfu, I've been planning to ask him to deal with the authorities, but a good accountant would be useful too..
Anyway, this is scaring me.. I was pretty sure that I will finally be able to found the company in January, but if they tell me I need a language exam before, I'll go crazy :( What level did you have to take? I hope not proficiency..
Message posted by Agni on 21 December 2004 at 10:08pm - IP Logged
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could you please tell me what level of language exam did you have to take? I'm really interested..
Message posted by Corfiot Mag on 22 December 2004 at 9:22am - IP Logged
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Corfiot Mag
Don't worry.
I have a private business, and have never been asked to even provide proof of competence in Greek (though I am fluent). I think it applies to certain professions, like if you want to set up as a doctor or dentist, for obvious reasons you have to know Greek (though you then have to run the gauntlet of the local professional body - union rules apply!).
I know lots of people here who have businesses and hardly know a word of Greek.
Having said that, the better you know the language, the easier life will be.
Hilary
Message posted by daiquiri on 22 December 2004 at 12:15pm - IP Logged
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Thank you Hilary, this is very good news, I've been a bit upset since Nathan said he was required to take an exam.
Of course, knowing the language well is important, and I'm doing my best to learn it, but I'm not yet prepared for an exam and it would be a very unpleasant surprise to travel to Corfu in January, trying to start the process of founding the company, and then being told that I need that exam.
I've already been in a quite similar situation thanks to the incredible incompetence of the Greek Embassy of Budapest, and I would certainly like to avoid another one.
Message posted by Agni on 22 December 2004 at 12:18pm - IP Logged
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Hilary, I am sure what you say is correct concerning bars and private businesses, but for my Travel Agent license for Agni Travel, I had to take a Greek exam. It consisted of written, spoken and translation parts.
Louisa from 'Harris boats' also had to take a similar exam for the ski shool. Maybe it depends on which 'body' the business is under and what regulations they set?
Nathan
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